Color stabilization of lubricating oils



Patented Nov. 15, 1932 HATE T TE *5 CHESTER E. ADAMS, F HAMMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL COMPANY, OI

WHITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA COLOR STABILIZATION OF LUBRICATING OILS No Drawing.

This invention relates to the color stabilization of lubricating oils and particularly hydrocarbon lubricating oils.

It is Well known that during use, for example, in internal combustion engines, hy-

0 amines are efiicacious in preserving the color of the oil. However, it is preferred to employ the secondary and tertiary aliphatic amines on account of their lower volatility. Substituted aliphatic amines, that is, amines in which one or more of the aliphatic groups contain hydroxyl and other substituted groups, may be employed. The hydroxyalkylamines are especially preferred since they combine a high effectiveness with relatively low volatility. The presence of alarge number of hydroxyl groups tends to render the amine insoluble in the oil and it is therefore preferred to employ aliphatic amines containing two hydroxy-alkyl groups and one alkyl group. p

Among the aliphatic amines which have been tested and found effective for the purpose may be mentioned butylamine, diethanolamine, ethyldiethanolamine, butyldiethanolamine, heptyldiethanolamine, cetyldiethanolamine, tributylamine, tri-isoamylamine, di-isoamylamine and diethylcetylamine.

The efficacy of the present invention will be readily understood from the following specific example. A pale oil, derived from Mid-Continent crude, of color on the true color scale, and having a viscosity of 200 seconds Saybolt F.) was heated for 72 hours at about 250 F. At the end of that period, its color was 200 that is, almost Application filed June 8,

1928. Serial N0. 284,016.

black. Another example, to which 0.1% 0 butyldiethanolamine was added, Was subject ed to exactly the same treatment, and at th end of the test, it had a color of 42.

The remarkable improvement effected b; the addition of aliphatic amines is unrelate to oxygen absorption since the amount 0 oxygen absorbed under the conditions speci fied above is not materially altered by th addition of the aliphatic amines.

I claim:

1. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contair ing a small proportion of analiphatic amin having an alkyl group containing not les than four carbon atoms.

2. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contain ing a small proportion of an aliphatic amin having more than one aliphatic group eacl said aliphatic group having not less than fou carbon atoms.

3. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contair ing a small proportion of an aliphatic amin having at least one substituted-alkyl grou 4. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contair ing a small proportion of an aliphatic amin having at least onehydroxy-alkyl group.

5. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contair ing a small proportion of a tertiary aliphati amine, each aliphatic group thereof havin not less than 2 carbon atoms.

6. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contair ing a small proportion of a tertiary aliphati amine having at least one substituted-alky group. I

7. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contair ing a small proportion of a tertiary aliphati amine having at least one hydroxy-alky group.

8. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contair. ing a small proportion of an aliphatic amin having two hydroXy-allryl groups and a alkyl-group united to the nitrogen atom.

9. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contair ing a small proportion of an aliphatic amin having two ethanol groups and an alky group united to the nitrogen atom.

10. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contair ing a small proportion of butyldiethanol amine.

11. The method of color stabilizing hydrc bon lubricating oils which consists in ling thereto a small proportion of an aliitic amine having an alkyl group containat least four carbon atoms. 2. The method of color stabilizing hydrobon lubricating oils which consists in ling thereto a small proportion of an aliitic amine having more than one aliphatic up containing at least four carbon atoms. .3. The method of color stabilizing hydrobon lubricating oils which consists in ling thereto a small proportion of an aliitic amine containing at least one substied-alkyl group. 4. The method of color stabilizing hydrobon lubricating oils which consists in ling thereto a small proportion of an aliitic amine containing at least one hydroXyyl group. .5. The method of color stabilizing hydrobon lubricating oils which consists in ling thereto a small proportion of a terry aliphatic amine, each aliphatic group :reof having at least 2 carbon atoms. .6. The method of color stabilizing hydro- 'bon lubricating oils which consists in ling thereto a small proportion of a tiary aliphatic amine containing at least a substituted-alkyl group. .7. The method of color stabilizing hydrobon lubricating oils which consists in sling thereto a small proportion of a tiary aliphatic amine containing at least a hydroXy-alkyl group. L8. The method of color stabilizing hydro- .bon lubricating oils. which consists in sling thereto a small proportion of an ali- I atic amine having two hydroXy-alkyl Jups and an alkyl-group united to the .rogen atom. L9. The methodof color stabilizing hydro- ?bon lubricating oils which consists in ding thereto a small proportion of an aliatic amine having two ethanol groups and alkyl group united to the nitrogen atom. 20. The method of color stabilizing hydrorbon lubricating oils which consists in ding thereto a small proportion of butyl- :thanolamine.

21. A lubricating oil comprising a hydrorbon lubricant and a small proportion of an pliatic amino compound having attached the amino nitrogen of the compound. subtuting groups of the class consisting of e aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having re than 2 carbon atoms and the hydroxy- :yl radicals.

22. A lubricating oil consisting of a hydrorbon lubricant and a small proportion of aliphatic amino compound wherein an iphatic hydrocarbon radical having more an 2- carbon atoms and a hydroXy-alkyl dical are attached to the amino nitrogen am, the remaining group attached thereto ing of the class consisting of hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having more than 2 carbon atoms.

23. The method of color stabilizing hydrocarbon lubricating oils which consists in adding thereto a small proportion of an aliphatic amino compound wherein an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having more than 2 carbon atoms and a hydroxy-alkyl radical are attached to the amino nitrogen atom, the remaining group attached thereto being of the class including hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals.

24. The method of color stabilizing hydrocarbon lubricating oils which consist in adding thereto a small proportion of an aliphatic amino compound wherein an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having more than 2 carbon atoms and a Qhydroxy-ethyl radical are attached to the amino nitrogen atom, the remaining group attached thereto being of the class consisting of hydrogen and aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals.

25. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil containing a small proportion of tributylamine.

26. Themethod of colorstabilizing hydrocarbon lubricating oils which comprises adding thereto a small proportion of tributylamine.

27. The method of color stabilizing hydro- I carbon lubricating oils which comprises addln'g thereto small proportion of an aliphatic amineselected from the group consisting of butylamine. diet-hanolamine, ethyldiethano amine, butyldicthanolamine, heptyldiethanolami'ne. cetyldiethanolamine, di-isoamylamine and cliethylcetylamine.

28: The method of color stabilizing hydrocarbon lubricating oils which comprises adding thereto'a small proportion of a tertiary aliphatic amine selected from the group consisting or tributylamine and tri-isoamylamine.

29. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil containing a small proportion of an aliphatic amine selected from the group consisting of butylamine. diethan'olamine. ethyl diethanolamine, butyl die'thanolamine, heptyl dieth anolamine, cetyl diethanolamine, di-isoamylamine and diethylcetylamine. I

30. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil containing a small proportion of a tertiary aliphatic amine selected from the group consisting of tributylamine and tri-isoamylamine.

31. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil containing a small proportion of a tertiary aliphatic amine, having alkyl groups containing at least four carbon atoms each.

32. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil contain ing a small proportion of butylamine.

33. The method of color stabilizing hydrocarbon lubricating oils which comprises adding thereto a small proportion of a butylamine.

The method of color stabilizing hydrocarbon lubricating oils which comprises adding thereto a tertiary aliphatic amine having alkyl groups containing not less than four carbon atoms each. 35. A hydrocarbon lubricating oil containing a small proportion of a secondary aliphatic amine having alkyl groups containing not less than five carbon atoms.

36. A hydrocarbon mineral oil containing a small proportion of an aliphatic amine having an alkyl group containing not less than four carbon atoms.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of April, A. 1)., 1928. CHESTER E. ADAMS. 

